The gas and oil reserves which many countries rely on are steadily depleting, and as a result ethanol and other alternative sources of fuel are becoming increasingly important. Recent advancements now allow people to produce ethanol from algae. Previously the fuel was most commonly made by fermenting crops like barley and corn. However, the growing, fermenting, and shipping necessary for this method of production uses a large amount of energy. The new technique aims to produce the same quantity but with less environmental impact.
When the fuel is burnt it is relatively pollution free as it does not contains harmful particulates. As a result of this, and because of other fuel shortages, some countries stipulate that it should make up at least 10% of car fuel.
When corn, barley, sugarcane, hemp, and potatoes are grown to make the fuel, they then need to be harvested and fermented. This is a costly and energy inefficient production method. It involves a lot of very complex machinery, a large land area, significant amounts of water, and a reliance on fertilizers and pesticides.
Unlike other feedstock, algae produces the fuel itself. The gas can be collected without harming the plant. It supplies ten times more than corn does over the same area, and it does not need to be planted on valuable agricultural land. The salt water that the plant thrives in can be pumped directly from the ocean which saves energy and money.
There are significant benefits to the smaller land requirement. The other crops used to make the fuel are now thought to be a contributing factor to world food shortages, because they only grow on prime farming land.
With industry in developing countries growing, the production of alternative fuel sources is ever more important. Getting ethanol from algae is a significant step forward in the journey to be no longer reliant on unsustainable fossil fuels.
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